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Ellen Meyer

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  • 5 min

Wealth of Experience: Kempinski’s Chief Brand Officer on Cruising Into the Luxury Hotel World

🏨 Barbara Biffi, recently appointed as chief brand officer, is set to transform Kempinski Hotels' global brand strategy. With a rich background in luxury cruise branding, including roles at Silversea Cruises, she aims to apply her expertise in digital and brand experience to the 150-year-old hotel group. Biffi's career began in 1999 at Ogilvy, and she has held various strategic roles, leveraging her degree in statistics and economics from Milan's Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.
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  • 5 min

How Curiosity Led to the C-Suite: Choice Hotels International’s Joshua Sloser on His Career Path

📈 Joshua Sloser, Choice Hotels International Chief Commercial Officer, transitioned from an airline reservation center to hospitality, driven by curiosity and a passion for travel. His career spans roles in data analytics, revenue management, and technology at CheapTickets and Travelocity, followed by nearly a decade at Hilton. He later led McDonald's digital transformation across 43,000 global restaurants. Now at Choice, he focuses on growing RevPAR and empowering franchisees. His career advice emphasizes curiosity, continuous learning, and adaptability.
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  • 3 min

Attention on Retention: Vision’s Gear Up Program ‘Graduate’ on the Benefits of Developing Employees Like Her 

📈 Amber Chastain joined Vision Hospitality Group as a breakfast attendant in November 2021. In less than five years, she became the general manager of Tru by Hilton Chattanooga Hamilton Place. Through Vision’s Gear Up program, Chastain completed a 6-week Level 1 training and a 6-9 month Level 2 training. By July of this year, she was permanently offered the GM position. Vision boasts eight general managers out of 38 who advanced through Gear Up.
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  • 3 min

Spire Hospitality’s Chris Russell on Catering to Sensory Differences Among Travelers and Employees

🏨 Chris Russell, CEO of Spire Hospitality, aims to make travel accessible for families with autism. Having a daughter with autism, Russell collaborates with Autism Double-Checked for hotel certification and employee training. As of now, four properties have been certified, including Cincinnati Marriott and Hotel Fera. Spire plans to certify all hotels by early 2026. The initiative includes empathy training and mock interviews for neurodiverse individuals, enhancing both guest experience and employee inclusion.
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